Foam producer for cleaning apparatus



April 6, 1954 J. L. CHATTERTON FOAM PRODUCER FOR CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 27, 195o Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATE TENT OFFICE FOAM PRODUCER Fon CLEANING APPARATUS This invention relates to cleaning apparatus, and particularly to apparatus for producing a suds and delivering the same through a brush for utilizing the cleansing action of the suds aided by the scrubbing action of the brush. Even more particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for producing an aerated suds or foam in such a manner that the foam can be delivered to a place of cleansing action as a foam and thereby eliminate the disadvantages inherent with the utilization of liquids for cleansing action.

In this invention an aqueous ioam or suds is produced in the apparatus and is delivered under pressure as a foam through a scrubbing brush in such a manner that the wetting action produced by the liquid in the foam is held to a minimum so that the aqueous foam will not cause shrinkage of normal fabrics, nor will they be unduly wet by the liquid content of the foam.

Detergent cleaners are well known on the cornmercial market, many of which cleaners produce their cleansing action by a foam created in the detergent, but it is conventional practice toI have the detergent carried in a liquid vehicle that is highly volatile in nature to avoid undue wetting of the fabric or article being cleansed, and to provide for rapid evaporation of the liquid carrier.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus that is capable of producing a high volume of aerated suds or foam that will contain a minimum amount of liquid in the foam and is particularly adaptable for producing aerated suds or foam from an aqueous solution.

While the apparatus is particularly well adapted for producing foam from an aqueous solution, yet it is not limited to such use, as other foam detergents can be used in the apparatus without in any Way aiieeting the operation of the apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus that can be used in the manner heretofore disclosed, which will contain no moving parts, and thereby obtain an apparatus that is trouble free, is low cost in manufacture, and is inexpensive to maintain.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an apparatus in accordance with the foregoing object wherein a gaseous medium lunder pressure is used for producing an aerating action in the detergent solution in the apparatus and thereby produce foaming ofi the detergent and to use the gaseous medium that causes the foaming action of the detergent as the medium by which the foam or suds so produced` is deliv- 5 Claims. (Cl. 261-121) ered through a eXible conduit to a point of use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cleansing apparatus having' a dual chamber structure, in one chamber of which liquid detergent is aerated to produce suds or foam which is delivered to the second chamber of the dual chamber arrangement to maintain the suds or foam separa-te from the liquid from which it was produced and thereby provide for delivery of relatively dry suds or foam from the apparatus, any unstable foam or suds that breaks down being returnable to the body of liquid from which the foam or suds was produced, rather than being delivered from the apparatus.

Still another object or" the invention is to provide an apparatus in accordance with the foregoing objects wherein a transparent plastic hose is used for delivery of suds or foam from the foam producing apparatus to a suitable place of use so that the operator can at all times inspect the condition of the foam being delivered from the apparatus, and if necessary adjust the apparatus to produce a more stable foam or a greater volume of it to maintain suitable dow through the hose to the desired point of use.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and from the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational View oi apparatus constructed in accordance with the teaching of this invention;

Figure 2 is a Vertical cross sectional view tal/:en through the apparatus of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, which line of section follows substantially the curvature of the bottom wall of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the brush utilized in theinvention and is taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a' cross sectional View illustrating a modined construction of the reenforced plastic hose used in this invention.

In this invention, the apparatus consists of a container it that is formed of a side wall I3 that is cylindrical in form. Container Hi has a bottom wall l I that is concave in form and seals against the bottom edge of the cylinder i3. Also, a top wall l2 is provided, which seals against the top edge of the cylinder I3, the top wall being convex in form.

It will be understood that the specific shape of the container can be other than that just i described without departing from the invention, but that the cylindrical and circular shapes are those which give the greatest strength; hence, the desirability of constructing the container in the form illustrated and described.

Within the container I there is provided a compartment wall structure generally designated by the numeral I that divides the container Ill into three compartments, I6, II, and I8. The wall structure I5 is in the form of two hollow truncated cones I9 and 20 that have their vertices connected by a conduit or tube 2l for interflow of material between the chambersv I1 and I8.

The upper hollow truncated cone I9 of the wall structure I5 is disposed in an inverted position with the base edge 22 of the cone I9 positioned against the top wall I2 of the container Il). Alternately the peripheral edge 22 of the base cone I9 can engage the side wall I3 of the container I0 if desired.

Preferably, the basey peripheral edge22 of the conev I9 can be sealed to thetop wall I2 or tothe sidewall I3 in any suitable manner, such as by solderingT operation, or with a resilient seal member.

The sealing of the cone I 9 to the top wall I2 or to the side wall I3 of the container I0 provides the closed chamber I8 in the upper portion of the container I0 into which suds or foam is delivered from the lower portion of the container I0 in a manner hereinafter described.

The cone 20 forming the. lower end of the, wall structure I5 hasv its base peripheral edgev 23 engaging the bottom wall II of the container I0. Thisperipheral edge 23 need not be sealed to the bottom wall II of the container I0, as liquid detergent shall move from the compartment I6 into the compartment I'I beneath the peripheral edge 23 of the cone 20.

To provide for more freedom of passage of liquid from the chamber I6 into the chamber I'I when the edge of the cone ilts too perfectly on the bottom wall II', notches 24 and 25, or other suitable openings, are provided in the lower edge of the cone 2li to relieve the: restriction.

A vent opening 26 is provided in the inverted cone I9 to provide interflow of gaseous medium between the chamber I8 and the chamber I6 during` filling operation of the. container IIJ.

A. lling opening 30 is provided inthe top wall I2 and has a suitable screw fitting 3I to close the opening 3U and seal it so` that gaseous pressure can be delivered into the Ycontainer I0.

A discharge opening 32v is also provided in the top wall I2 through which stable foam or suds can be discharged into the delivery conduit 33 that is connected to the outlet conduit 34 by means of a releasableclamp 35.

A drain opening 36 is provided in the lower portion of the chamber I6 and. is closed by a drain plug 31.

To cause agitation of the detergent solution placed in the container I0, a pipe 40- passes through the top wall I2 of the container I0 and extends downwardly into the container through the tubular connection 2I between the truncated cones I!! and 20 through which air under pressure is delivered into a generally helically arranged conduit 4l positioned inv close proximity of the bottom wall II of the container I0 and near the outer periphery of. the cone 20 at the juncture between the cone 20 and the wall I I'.

This distributing tube 4I has a series of holes placed in theupper side.v thereof so that air under pressure delivered through thev pipe, 40 will be,

exhausted into the liquid contained within the chamber I1.

Air is supplied to the pipe from a supply conduit 42 and is under control of a pressure regulating valve 43, of any conventional construction, to maintain pressure of the air delivered into the conduit 40 at a predetermined value as controlled by the operator through adjustment of the valve 43 by means of the adjusting handle 44.

The pressure gauge 45 indicates the pressure delivered into the pipe 40 and a shut-off valve 4t is provided for completely closing off the air supply to the pipe 40 if desired. The distributing tube 4I is suitably connected to the pipe 4D by a connector 46;

The delivery tube 33 is constructed of a transparent plastic material and has the coiled wire 4l placed in the wall of the tube 33 to reenforce the plastic wall and prevent collapse of the tube 33 due-to any sharp bending of the tube.

The delivery tube 33 being constructed of a transparent plastic material permits the operator of the device to have a constant inspection of the flow of suds or foam that is beingv deliveredto the brush 5S placed on the delivery end of the tube 33. Thus, if the operator should determine that the foam is of an unstable variety and a larger amount of liquid is present in the tube than should be there normally, he can adjust the pressure delivered into the container I0 to develop a greater volume of foam or a more stable foam.

Also, the transparency of the. tube 33 permits 'the person for whom work is being done tosee the condition of the detergent as it is flowing to the brush 5d.

The brush 50 through which the foam or suds isdelivered on to the surface beingv cleansed con-` sists of a hollow body 5I forming a chamber 52 into which the suds or foam is delivered from the tube 33. rlhe chamber 52 is closed by a plate 53 from which rows of bristles 54 project. A series of openings 55 are provided between the rows of bristles 54 for delivery of suds or foam onto the rarticle or surface being cleansechso that the bristles 54 can perform their scrubbing action immediately at the point of discharge of theI cleansing foam onto the article whereat the foam is in its most stable condition, at whichy time a minimum quantity of liquid is in the foam.

In operation, the container IB is filled with approximately three gallons of detergent solution through the opening 3i), the liquid risingr to the level Si) in the container IQ, thus leaving chamber I8 free of liquid.

In this invention it is proposed that the detergent solution shall consist of three gallons of water, to which one quart of a detergent has been added.

Air is supplied to the interior of thev container through thev pipe 4! at a pressure value of aproximately one and one-half pounds per square inch, this value having been determined to be sufficient to obtain a high volume of stable suds or foam from the detergent solution used.

Air discharging through the openings in the distributing tube 4I agitates and aerates the detergent solution in the chamber II with a violent agitation to produce suds or foam of substantially all of the liquid in the chamber il.

Since the side walls of the chamber I'I taper upwardly, the foam will rise in the chamber Il and be delivered through the tube 2| into the upper chamber IB, the foam iilling the chamber I8. and spilling out into and throughv the tube 33;

for discharge through the openings 55 in the brush 50.

Since the tube 33 is the only free discharge for the air that is delivered into the chamber I1, passage of the air through the chamber I8 and into the tube 33 will carry with it the foam and suds within the chamber I8, thus delivering the suds to the brush `5!) under pressure but at a relatively low value since the volume of the tube 33 is relatively large and the openings 55 provide a relatively free passage of the air for exhaust from the chamber I8.

As liquid is used from the chamber I'.' by the violent sudsing action created in the chamber l1 by delivery of air under pressure into the restricted volume of detergent solution in the chamber Il, liquid from the chamber I5 will supply the chamber l1 through the openings 2!! and heretofore described. the liquid level in the chambers le and I1 gracually falling correspondingly as the detergent solution is used.

The chamber I8 being above the liquid level 60 provides a chamber into which free suds or foam is delivered which, if stable, will be carried into the delivery tube 33 by a ilow of air through the chamber I3 into the tube 33. However, some of the foam produced will not be completely stable, some of it being in the form of bubbles that are either too small or too large for stability.

The unstable foam will break down in the chamber I8 and the liquid formed thereby will drain into the connecting tube 2! between the chambers I8 and i1 and thence into chamber Il where it will again be acted upon by the air agitation created in the chamber Il. Thus unstable foam and the excess liquid condition created thereby will not be present in the delivery tube 33 for delivery through the brush 50.

Thus, the apparatus of this invention provides for development of a foam with delivery of only stable foam to the surface being cleansed whereby the minimum wetting of the article being cleansed is obtained.

In Figure 6 there is illustrated a slightly modified arrangementof the construction of the delivery tube 33 in which the tube 33a has a coil spring El) placed internally therein for reenforcement of the tube 33a and to prevent collapse thereof. The spring 60 is prevented from longitudinal movement within the tube 33a by means of a pin 6l extending through the iitting 62 and the end coils 63 of the spring 60.

While the apparatus disclosed and described herein illustrates a preferred'form of the invention, yet it will be understood that the apparatus is capable of alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that all modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

I claim:

1. Cleaning apparatus that comprises a closed container, a wall structure within said container dividing said container into a plurality of chambers, said chambers comprising a suds receiving and expanding chamber, a suds forming chamber and a liquid storage chamber, said last-mentioned chamber being disposed around said suds receiving and suds forming chambers, means forming a restricted passageway directly connecting said suds receiving and expanding chamber with said suds forming chamber, passageway means of limited liquid flow between said suds forming chamber and said liquid storage chamber, means comprising a conduit extending into said suds forming chamber for delivering a gase- 6 ous medium under pressure into said suds forming chamber whereby to form suds therein from liquid in said chamber, and means forming a discharge passage from said suds receiving and expanding chamber.

2. Cleaning apparatus that comprises a closed container, a Wall structure within said container dividing said container into a plurality of chambers, said chambers comprising a suds receiving and expanding chamber, a suds forming chamber and a liquid storage chamber, said last-mentioned chamber being disposed around said suds receiving and suds forming chambers, means forming a restricted passageway directly connecting the suds receiving and expanding chamber with the suds forming chamber, passage means of limited liquid flow between said suds forming chamber and said liquid storage chamber, means in said suds forming chamber positioned at the liquid iioi-f passage for delivering a gaseous medium under pressure into the suds forming chamber whereby to form suds therein from liquid in said chamber, and means forming a discharge passage from said suds receiving and expanding chamber.

3. Cleaning apparatus that comprises a closed container, a wall structure within said container dividing said container into a plurality of chambers, said chambers comprising a suds receiving and expanding chamber, a suds forming chamber and a liquid storage chamber, said last-mentioned chamber being disposed around the suds receiving and suds forming chambers, means forming a restricted passageway directly connecting the suds receiving and expanding chamber with the suds forming chamber, passage means of limited liquid ow between said suds forming chamber and said liquid storage chamber, means in said suds forming chamber positioned at the liquid flow passage for delivering a gaseous medium under pressure into the suds forming chamber whereby to form suds therein from liquid in said chamber, means forming a discharge passage from said suds receiving and expanding chamber, and a transparent plastic conduit having one end thereof connected with said discharge connection for dispensing suds from said suds forming chamber.

4. Cleaning apparatus comprising; a closed container, dual hollow truncated cone-shaped members in said container interconnected at their vertices and having their base peripheries engaging the walls of said container at opposite ends thereof to provide chamber means at each end of said container and also to form a second chamber within said container surrounding said cone-shaped members, means in the chamber means at one end or said container for introducing a gaseous medium thereto under pressure to agitata liquid adapted to be placed therein, means forming a discharge conduit from the chamber means at the opposite end of said container for conducting substantially dry foam therefrom, and vent iiow passage means between the said chamber means and the said second chamber in the container that surrounds said chamber means.

5. A method of producing and delivering substantially dry stable foam to a region to be treated thereby comprising the steps of (a) establishing a liquid detergent body, (b) forcing the gaseous medium under pressure through said liquid detei-gent body to produce foam therefrom, (c) moving the foam so produced upwardly and compressing the foam during its upward movement @amm to' break-downthe WetI bubbles therein, (d) exipending'n the foam: following. the compression thereof tov separate` the: foaminto dryvr stable foam while permitting liquidI entrained' therein and wet foam to separate therefrom and return to the liquid detergent body, and (e) withdrawing'the vdry stable foam from the expanded foam and delivering it to the region to be treated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES'y PATENTS Number Name Date 1,020,716 Schmper Mar. 19, 1912 1,038,960 Rhone Sept. 17, 1912 1,141,243 Foster June 1, 1915 1,163,319 Campbell Dec. 7, 1915 Number Number Name Date Bass Dec. 18,l 191?? Sheeler- Oct. 24, 1933 Mehlsen et al. Mar. 19, 1935 Von Schrader Apr..23, 1940 Nielsen Mar. 81949 Platek Mar. 7, 1950 Gilmore et al. Oct. 3, 1950 Marshall Apr; 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date. Great.Britain Mar. 1-, 1934 OTHER' REFERENCES British Plastics. page 488, Oct. 1948. 

